CSU Denounces ASA Resolution
Below is a letter from Rabbi Aron Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, along with Tammi Benjamin and Leila Beckwith of the AMCHA Initiative to Calfornia State University Chancellor Timothy White thanking him for CSU's denouncing of the resolution by the American Studies Association calling for an academic boycott of Israel.
I must say as one who is usually critical of academia's treatment of Israel in the US that this development of so many universities speaking out forcefully against this asinine action by the ASA is very heartening to me. It shows me that our side must continue to push back against these gangsters masquerading as scholars and students.
When the ASA resolution was passed, the Palestinian lobby was congratulating themselves. In the face of this reaction, they and the ASA activists are crying like babies. They have been handed a setback.
What remains is for the vast majority of American students to hear the truth about Israel, the truth about her enemies, and the truth about the anti-Semitic hate that this anti-Israel campaign in our universities has brought about. If they hear that truth, they will do the right thing and reject this anti-Israel, anti-American, and anti-Semitic chorus. Who knows? Maybe one of these years can get our universities back into the business of educating as opposed to indoctrinating.
Below is a letter from Rabbi Aron Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, along with Tammi Benjamin and Leila Beckwith of the AMCHA Initiative to Calfornia State University Chancellor Timothy White thanking him for CSU's denouncing of the resolution by the American Studies Association calling for an academic boycott of Israel.
I must say as one who is usually critical of academia's treatment of Israel in the US that this development of so many universities speaking out forcefully against this asinine action by the ASA is very heartening to me. It shows me that our side must continue to push back against these gangsters masquerading as scholars and students.
When the ASA resolution was passed, the Palestinian lobby was congratulating themselves. In the face of this reaction, they and the ASA activists are crying like babies. They have been handed a setback.
What remains is for the vast majority of American students to hear the truth about Israel, the truth about her enemies, and the truth about the anti-Semitic hate that this anti-Israel campaign in our universities has brought about. If they hear that truth, they will do the right thing and reject this anti-Israel, anti-American, and anti-Semitic chorus. Who knows? Maybe one of these years can get our universities back into the business of educating as opposed to indoctrinating.
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Timothy P. White
California State University Chancellor
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, CA 90802-4210
Dear Chancellor White,
We highly commend you for publicly denouncing the American Studies Association’s boycott of Israeli universities, noting that such a boycott would “violate the basic tenents of higher education including academic freedom and scholarly dialog.” Excluding the Jewish state’s universities from the community of scholars would certainly thwart the “unfettered creation, discovery and dissemination of knowledge vital to [CSU's] mission of research, teaching and service,” and the mission of every other American university.
In the 1930’s, thousands of Jewish scholars were kicked out of German universities simply because they were Jews, and German academia was silent. It is reassuring that in the United States, the head of the largest university system in America has publicly condemned efforts to discriminate against scholarly institutions in the Jewish state.
Thank you for your resolute commitment to upholding the highest ideals of the university.
Sincerely,
Aron Hier
Director, Campus Outreach
Simon Wiesenthal Center
Leila Beckwith
Co-founder AMCHA Initiative
Tammi Rossman-Benjamin
Co-founder AMCHA Initiative
Cc: CSU Board of Trustees
CSU Presidents
California Jewish Community leaders
What it really shows is that asinine nonsense doesn't have the traction some shrill voices have been telling us it has, no matter who's mouth it comes out of. But yeah, the fools have been crying like babies.
ReplyDeleteIt was a well stated condemnation and a nice note of appreciation for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame any of it was necessary. It further demonstrates the basic misunderstanding Muslims have of American culture and seek to exploit our lenient laws on free speech.